Cable stresses fast pace

Quick hits from Wednesday’s post-practice press briefing with coach Tom Cable and interviews with available players:

– Other than failing to recognize he was supposed to break down a special teams huddle at the beginning of practice and seeming confused when stepping to the microphone at the end, nothing seemed indecisive about Cable’s first day as coach.
“Hold on a second . . . do I start this?,” Cable said. “Bear with me a minute.”

Cable was told that since he’s the coach, he can do whatever he wants.

“Oh, really?,” he said with a laugh.

– With systems of football already in place and a quarter of a season in the books, there will be no dramatic changes. One minor change _ the practice of running plays over and over until they get them right that sometimes extended Raiders practices by 20 minutes or more under Lane Kiffin has been junked.

“I will say this to you _ we’re going to stay on schedule. Practice isn’t going to run over. If it’s scheduled to be an hour and 35 minutes or whatever it is, it’s going to be an hour and 35,” Cable said. “We’ll get in, get the work done right and get off the field so we can go in, teach and learn, and get better that way.

“The work will be tempo, tempo, tempo, as fast as we can go and keep pushing that, because I just believe, if you play faster than the other guy he’s going to give up somewhere in that game, so that will always be our deal, to keep pressing them. So, that may be the only difference. If it’s 10 reps, it will be 10 and be done. If it’s 15, it’s 15 and get done. Whatever the situation is, we’ll hold true to it.”

– Rest assured that if Kiffin had to go, the offensive line is on board with Cable as the replacement.

“Coach Cable is going to be awesome,” tackle Kwame Harris said. “He’s done a lot for me, just playing my position since the start of this year. I think what people can expect out of him is a very straightforward, honest, sincere coach who loves this game.”

Guard Robert Gallery said the “tempo” theme was stressed immediately.

“Once we got to the team portion of it, the tempo was a little faster,” Gallery said. “He made that a point this morning that when get in a situation, JaMarcus has been here long enough, he knows it, and the faster we get in and out (of the huddle), the easier it’s going to be on game day.”

– Said Gallery of the “distraction” factor: “I think everyone was tired of hearing about it. I don’t think it was helping us to come in and hear about it every week.”

– It’s doubtful you’ll hear Cable talk openly about his team’s shortcomings the way Kiffin often did. While falling short of Joe Bugel’s memorable “multiple Super Bowls” forecast, Cable is talking about playing in January.

“We’re a good team, we’re going to run for the playoffs, and that’s our deal,” Cable said. “We’re not going to back down, and we’re not afraid to say that. Because you have to if you believe in yourself.”

– Justin Fargas is in his sixth season and is playing for his fifth head coach. So he can be excused for shrugging off Tuesday’s events as just another day at the office.

When asked if it was the strangest day of his Raiders career, Fargas shrugged.

“I don’t know if it was the strangest. It was another day,” Fargas said. “Just shows that change can come overnight and you’ve got to move on and do your job.”

– Fargas, who became a 1,000-yard rusher under Kiffin last season, was sorry to see him go but ready to move on.

“From what I seen and I felt, everybody supported Lane,” Fargas said. “We were happy to play for him. There’s just a situation that happens in this business and you have to be able to move on and, like I said before, do your job. But, nah, guys liked Lane and guys like Cable too. So we’re going to play for our head coach and it’s Tom Cable and we’re going to play for him.”

– Cable doesn’t want any stragglers. He’s not big on team rules.

“What I believe in is be early, we’ll get done early, and you’re going to play your guts out for each other,” Cable said. “That’s all that matters. Be where you’re supposed to be when you’re supposed to be there. That’s plenty of rules. We’re grown men.”

– The Raiders practiced in shells and Cable said the big emphasis was getting in a quick-tempo workout and getting people healthy during the bye week. Guard Cooper Carlisle (ankle) practiced and was limited after being inactive against San Diego. Cable said he thought Carlisle would be ready to face the Saints on Oct. 12.

– The Raiders practice Thursday before taking the weekend off and returning Monday.

Sapp sounds off

Former Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp held nothing back in assessing the Raiders situation in his role as an analyst on Showtime’s Inside the NFL.

“I remember the first two weeks I was there, we played a pre-season game. Somebody came up one time and said, ‘We’re going deep right here, dog.’ I said, how do you know? He said, ‘The phone just rang.’

“All the preparation that goes into a week of work is there, the practicing that you have to put in order to do these things, sometimes he (Al Davis) messed with that part of it and that’s what kills you.”

More Sapp:

On players signing on to play with the Raiders

Sapp: Nobody tells you how bad it is. I remember seeing Trace Armstrong after spending my four years there. I wanted to choke the life out of him. I wanted to kill him . . . and then Phillip Buchanon was there. I said, Phil, why didn’t you tell me this? I said, you all did wrong. Because any person that calls me on the telephone, (I tell them) do not go anywhere near Oakland.

On Lane Kiffin being fired, fair or unfair

Sapp: Way unfairly. He came in there with a change of mentality. The whole system. He changed how the locker room looked because it was going to take that kind of overhaul for Oakland to become the proud franchise we all knew it was.

On Al Davis

Sapp: He is the common equation. You take him out, put him at home watching film or whatever he is doing – you have a functioning football organization. But once he comes over the top, he goes and starts moving it around . . .

“Al Davis knows football – it’s just ‘60s and ‘70s football. That’s what it is. He’s thinking that Cliff Branch is outside and (Jim) Plunkett is dropping back and you can throw it 80 yards down the field – deep ball, deep ball, deep ball.”

Jerry McDonald - NFL Writer

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I don’t know where I was going with that legos analogy. Maybe it should be building an NFL team is not like making a smoothie, or building an NFL team is like assembling a jigsaw puzzle, the pieces need to fit together. Whatever, that being said, I hope Al intends to build an offense around Jam from here on out, because we definitely got the horses.

http://www.boohoo.com Oakglenn

408RAIDER:

Good for you, moments of clarity are refreshing.

Ignacio Evans

If somebody would sponsor a fund to knock off Al Davis, I’ll contribute 50 bucks. It can’t cost that much. Or at least give him a 2 week notice as GM.

I’m stuck. I can’t switch teams. I’ve been a Raiders fan since #3 and when George Blanda would come in as quarterback and perform miracles.

Al Davis has to die one way or another, or be given an offer that he can’t refuse.

I really like Gannon, but he cant say work for the raiders its an imposible thing. Thats bs.
Before the raiders gannon was a bad QB backup. The vikins draft him because they thougt he can play as LB.
Nobody wants Gannon before the Raiders, even almost all of us hate him.

http://view.playlist.com/12165303563/standalone 408RAIDER

El NegroyPlata

Let em know brother!

http://www.funxite.com/media/136-fighting-squirrels.jpg El Dirty

Yeah I know I read it this morning. Typical ra ra I have heard all week. I have people down here that dont even recognize that they almost lost.

M

BridgeBrigade,

thanks for being civil. Yeah I did not quite grasp the “lego” thing either when you wrote it.

Your point is excellent. Form the O to give J Russ the best chance to use his arsenal rather than try to fit him into a preformed box. And I am not talking about 80 yard bombs on every down.He is a unique talent and he can make ALL of the throws. Just allow him to find his comfort zone and it will all slow down for him. He’s gonna be special (barring injury).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skew-t/166654980/ BART Bridge Brigade

Well then M, I think we can both agree, Jam is the centerpiece of this team from here on out. I don’t agree with every move that Al makes, but he chose Russell so I can only hope that he surrounds him with all the tools that he needs.

Dakota

M Says:
October 2nd, 2008 at 9:55 am
Lakeshow,

ND media hype.
______________________________________

M, I have to disagree with you just a little bit on this one. I am a ND fan, and I have to admit that when Quinn was here I thought he was nothing more than an above-average QB. I still think his arm in not suited to make the 20+ yard NFL throws, however, his leadership skills and intangibles became clear last year after Quinn was gone. Quinn truly made chicken salad from chickensheet in his last two years at ND. His mobility and pocket presence and decision making are very, very good.

I would rather have Jamarcus, but I think Quinn is going to be a very good NFL QB. Not great, but very good. Jamarcus could be great, unless Al derails him with multiple HCs and systems.

Brien(no excuses)

post 657………Gannon wasn’t drafted by minny and he wasnt drafted as a LB!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skew-t/166654980/ BART Bridge Brigade

I don’t know if anybody has already thought of this, but in regards to Al’s mystery executive: I had previously assumed it was Mariucci, but the thought just occured to me, that perhaps it is none other than Jim Fassel. Fassel grew up in the LA area, coached at Stanford, and his son is already on the staff. He was seen rocking a raiders hat at training camp, which is when he could have had contact with Al. I have a huge amount of respect for Fassel in regards to offensive football, and I for one would be thrilled to get him in our organization.

http://view.playlist.com/12165303563/standalone 408RAIDER

OG dont get it twisted I’m still pissed @ Big Al… I wanna kick him in the a$s…

Dakota

Bob…sorry, no H-Rod jersey, I sport the Louis Salazar jersey!

Brien(no excuses)

Dakota, damn brother tough game last night

Raider J

Shut up, Sapp. You came in for 4 years, and played decent for 1. Go get your ass kicked on the dance floor, you fat slob!

Dakota

Brien,

Now that Kiffin is gone it should open the door for some changes on the o-line right? Wade starting at C?

M

Won’t be seeing anymore 76 yd field goal tries. I’m sure JaMarcus (who’d probably been throwing “Hail Mary’s” just before halftime since PeeWee football) was thinking the same as most of us as SeaBass lined up, WTF? Hell, just before the half of the Buffy game, Raiders took a knee from their own 30. I thought it was a waste. Just toss that sucker and see what happens.
Personally I thought it was quite disrespectful toward Russell, the O-line and to the WRs.

http://view.playlist.com/12165303563/standalone 408RAIDER

Sup Brien?

Who drafted Gannon then and you know they wanted him to be a DB.. so lets just say they wanted him to play D

ENP is cool take it easy on our brethren in Mexico..

Brien(no excuses)

Dakota, we shall see if that happens but I’d like for Wade to start at center. I just feel power is lacking with Grove and people can talk all that ZBS crap if they want but inside the 10 you need power when teams are stacking verse the run. John Wade has proved for years he can handle the load. I mean for heaven’s sake Tampa only got rid of him because Jeff Faine was a Pro Bowler

I know you are not a fan of Tom Cable but let’s assume for a moment that he does ok this year and gets the job for next season, would you like to bring Scott Linehan as OC?.

Truth is I don´t even know if they are close, just that they were teammates at Idaho but I´m just speculating anyway…so I´m throwing it out there.

It would be a different system so that´s the downside but maybe Cable makes the transition easier.

- “Linehan was offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2002-2004. The Vikings’ offense ranked second, first and fourth respectively during his tenure.

Quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s 110.9 passer rating in 2003 was fourth-highest in NFL history. The Vikings scored 290 points the year before Linehan joined them 390, 416, and 405 in three Linehan’s three seasons.

Linehan joined the Rams after one season as offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins, who improved from 29th in the NFL in total offense in 2004 to 14th in 2005 and from 31st in rushing to 12th. The Dolphins finished the season with six consecutive victories.”

Brien(no excuses)

Chaos, the Dodgers pulled a shocker IMO. But hey when you got Manny out there anything is possible. My grandfather is an old school Dodger fan from the 40s

Dakota

Big Z is starting.

Brien(no excuses)

Dakota I tell you Kwame Harris starting at left tackle will be a problem all year. Did you hear this guy talk yesterday? Oh my god he sounds like a pu$$y and not a football player. To me it sends a message like most Standford guys…..”I’m soft as medicated cotton”

I think it was only a shocker to everyone who has not been watching them lately. They have been on a tear and I do think a lot has to do with Manny. I hope we have a freeway series this year, with the Angels Vs. The Dodgers. I have some really good seats with the company and have never been to a baseball playoffs game!

Brien(no excuses)

Freeway series will not be happening at all. Sox has matchup advantages of the Angels. The Angels cant beat them. Boston got squad and I think they are winning the whole damn thing again

M

My, my, my, everyone here seems to be quite cordial this morning. Very nice to see. Makes for more thoughtful discussions. Passions and viewpoints are much better when expressed without the invective. Thanks all.

Dakota,

I am not an ND fan so I have a natural bias against them. Perhaps you are right that The Q will be very good. I don’t see it, but I might not look for it due to my predisposition against the Golden Domers.

Brien(no excuses)

My god I hate the red sox but I just dont see them winning. Personally I’d rather see a Windy city series with White Sox winning

Brien(no excuses)

M- everyone is cordial because the coaching mess for now is done

Dakota

Brien…would you rather see Henderson at LT and Harris at RT with Green and his penalties on the bench?

I guess now that Cable is the HC we should have a pretty good idea about his confidence in Henderson.

Brien(no excuses)

M- all of us have two things in common……….we are tired of the losing and we love the Raiders

http://0 Bob Marley

Dakota

Lol..I don´t even know who Salazar is and thats why it´s would make a great jersey, but let´s face it, it´s the rest of the clothes that make that outfit a classic, don´t get rid of it.

Dakota

Bob, you better bookmark that photo so you can nail me with it during next year’s NBA finals.

interesting speculation about Linehan. Who knows what the future will bring with staff? I’m just hoping that for the rest of this season Knapp will feel free to take the training wheels off.

Brien(no excuses)

Dakota Kwame Harris best days were at RT in san francisco. He jsut doesn’t have what it takes to be the best pass blocker on the o-line. Now whether Henderson can I don’t know but in college people said he would play down to his competiton but show up against top tier pass rushers like Gaines Adams.

Tom Cable has head coaching experience and NFL experience. 2 things Lane Kiffin didn’t have when he took over as HC here. Plus he looked like a liar & a sissy. deserves nothing, because he did nothing here. Kiffin fans aren’t Raider fans. Choose a side suckas!

Brien(no excuses)

Knapp is a 49er ingrate but he has more knowledge on how to beat NFL defenses than the last guy we had calling the plays.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skew-t/166654980/ BART Bridge Brigade

Great point Marley. I think Al and Cable would both like that move. Who says I don’t like Tom Cable? I just feel bad for the guy, because he had to assume the role of head Scape-Coach at mid-season. He is in a very tough spot right now, but I really hope he can pull it off.

My prediction if Cable struggles though is Jim Fassel steps in as pseudo GM, and hires the next coach.

http://0 Bob Marley

BART

I noticed that when Davis spoke about the “TV guy” he said he got a call from him that morning wondering what was he going to do…sounds like he was interested in the vacancy or maybe, if it was Mariucci, it was to put the word in for Knapp and Cable, two guys who coached for him.

And then, after the conference was over he dropped the “football executive” who is a “local” and it would be “unique”.

So it seems to me like the TV guy is different than the football executive, it could be a number of people but it´s always fun to speculate, I´d have no problem with Fassell either.